MARY SCOVELL

Mary went into the hospital Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53226-3596
on Thursday 11 September and began treatment on Friday 12 September for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Mary is Neutrapenic which means that her white cell count is very low and her immune system is compromised. As a result of the low immune system Mary was in the midst of a staggering routine of chemotherapy when she developed an infection and a reoccuring fevers. On Monday 29 September the doctors placed her in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in order to allow close observation day and night. Her white blood count at this was 100 (the norm is 10,000). Mary's white blood count has now moved up to 600. She was heavily sedated and first she was fed intraveniously and for the last couple of days she has graduated to a feeding tube. She has also been taken off her respirator. The chemo treatments have been completed and it seems that the infection is on the way out. She is at last beginning to be responsive to the nurses. Because of the heavy sedation and the fear of infection we have been unable to visit her. Since going to the ICU the phone number that many of you were given is no longer available to her and her condition is such that she will unable to take phones calls until further notice. Sue has been checking in with the nurses at least 3 times a day for updates on Mary's condition. We will try to update this blog regularly. For further updates please feel free to email, blog, or call us at 262-781-2075.

The staff at Froedtert is great! We have been pleased with their care, concern and expertise. Although this is not a good time to visit Mary it remains a great time for thoughts, prayers, and cards. In the Leukemia wing there are lots of rules that one must follow such as fresh flowers and live plants are not allowed.